Check out the possibility of a phonon laser… or “phaser”. From PhysOrg.com:
While the optical laser celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year, some scientists have been working on a new type of coherent beam amplifier for sound rather than light. Scientists theorize that phonons, which are the smallest discrete unit of vibrational energy, can be amplified by a phonon laser to generate a highly coherent beam of sound (particularly, high-frequency ultrasound), similar to how an optical laser generates a highly coherent beam of light. However, phonon laser research is still a relatively new area. In a new study, scientists have for the first time demonstrated the possibility that phonons can be collectively excited in an ultra-cold atomic gas in a way that is similar to how an optical laser excites photons, prompting the scientists to call the proposed device a “phaser.”
But will they discover hot green chicks in lingerie?
h/t: Instapundit
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If I remember Star Trek, this is the episode where Kirk was attempting to touch Spock in a way that would elicite some sort of emotion from the heartless Vulcan!
Set phasers to STUNNING!
And the reason Fritz remembers that is that it’s his favorite episode, with all the touching involved.
They’ve also found a “tractor beam” – though it’s only powerful enough to move microbes in a liquid environment.
The explanation for phasers in the series was that they were an application of phased light technology. If anybody cares.
Floyd, if this is your concept of lingerie, I think I understand a few things about you muuuuuuuuuuuuch better.
As I recall from “The Making of Star Trek” (I might be wrong since I haven’t read it since I was about twelve), “Phaser” stood for “Photon Maser.”
Masers are really just as sexy as lasers, but never got the press they deserved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maser